Square in Powai to be named after slain journalist J Dey

A square at the spot near noted journalist Jyotirmoy Dey was gunned down over five years ago will be named after him.

The Brihnmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will formally dedicate the square named after Dey in suburban Powai on July 13, fulfilling a long-pending demand of the media fraternity in the metropolis.

Dey, known to be a fearless journalist, often wrote on Mumbai underworld’s activities and gang-wars. The 56-year-old crime reporter worked with leading publications.

Mayor Snehal Ambekar will unveil the plaque for the “J Dey Chowk” just across the road where he was gunned down on June 11, 2011, the Mumbai Press Club said in a statement on Saturday. The unveiling ceremony will be followed by a memorial meeting at a nearby hotel, it said.

“To mark his contribution to journalism and recognise his brand of fearless crime reporting, the Club has been successful in convincing the BMC to name the Powai Garden’s D-Mart Chowk after Dey,” said a senior officer-bearer.

“The inauguration of the J Dey Chowk will be a very important event for journalists. It not only is a mark to the memory of the fighter J Dey, the chowk is also a remembrance for nearly a dozen journalists who have died in the line of duty in recent months,” said the statement.

The Club, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the progress of investigation into Dey’s murder, allegedly carried out at the behest of underworld don Chhota Rajan. The first chargesheet in the case, being handled by CBI, names 10 accused.

“Nailing down crucial details of J Dey’s killing who was behind the trigger and what was the motive is still wide open,” it said.